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All Your Questions About Solar Power for the Home, Answered

Solar energy is a wonderfully effective and cost-efficient addition to most any home, and yet only 3% of American households use it. So what’s up? Maybe you’ve got some lingering questions keeping you from making the switch. Let’s talk about them, and bring you one step closer to making your city-living a little greener.

“Are they worth the money?”

Of course. You’re minimizing your eco footprint, after all which is pretty big deal, and whether you plan on staying put in your home or selling, you’re going to be reimbursed for your money somehow. Your solar panels will pay for themselves with your electricity savings, or they’ll increase the value of your property. However, if you live in a big city like Boston, where electricity costs are higher than the national average, you can expect a return in as little as a decade.

“How much will it cost?”

It depends. The cost varies on location, the size and shape of your home’s roof and the type of panels you choose. On average, solar panels will cost anywhere from $11,380 to $14,990.

“Aren’t solar panels super ugly?”

Before answering, it should be clarified that the use of solar power with the accompanying solar panels is an effort towards sustainable energy rather than aesthetics. With that being said, the panels get an unfair reputation for being eyesores. Among the most common are monocrystalline silicon solar panels, which basically look like solid black tiles. These can lay flat on your roof or awning, inconspicuously arranged to look like the very shingles they cover.

“Will they work if I don’t live in an area that’s sunny all the time?”

Yep. Your solar panels are converting the photons found in daylight into energy. Those photons can penetrate through cloud cover, even on the most overcast, snowy and rainy of days. For this reason, solar panels are effective no matter your state. In fact, a fun new study from Greenshine New Energy shows that just a few hours of solar energy generation can produce quite powerful results, at least hypothetically.

“Are solar panels high maintenance?”

Once installed, all your solar panels will need is a quick spray down via hose to remove trapped dust and debris. They’ve been designed to withstand harsh weather conditions, so you won’t have to fuss over them too much.

“But they look so fragile. Will they last a long time?”

Despite what they look like, solar panels are not made of glass. Remember, most are a special type of silicon. They’re tough enough to last twenty-five years without any major maintenance.

All in all, solar panels are a fantastic addition to modern technology, and your home. Energy harnessed from the sun is safer, and cleaner than the use of nuclear power or fossil fuels. It’s also likely to cost you less in the long run compared to electricity, which is awesome because, let’s face it, urban life can be pricey.